http://nativenebraskan.wikispaces.com/PSA

http://nativenebraskan.wikispaces.com/Software+Podcast

http://nativenebraskan.wikispaces.com/Stacey+Thompson+Video

Self Assessment:
In EDLD 5363 we learned many new and exciting things that we can do with technology. The first assignment was to create a video story of our lives. This assignment really made me dig for pictures that I hadn’t seen in awhile. I enjoyed reflecting on growing up and the decisions that I have made in my life. I was a little apprehensive to use the movie maker software but after experimenting with it I found myself having fun. In week 2 we created a podcast. We selected a video clip and used video editing software to change the clip, and wrote an evaluation of video editing software and uploaded the podcast to a free site so that others could view the tutorial. The big assignment for this course was to create a 60 second or less PSA with a group. As a group we brainstormed and planned out our PSA on Netcetera, an online resource to help parents talk to their children about online bullying and predators.

Learn as a Learner:
I feel that as I completed each assignment, I grew as an educator. I experienced another part of technology use that I can use in my classroom and also show my fellow colleagues. I found myself to be a little apprehensive about completing each assignment since I had no experience with any of the software. Once I started I felt more at ease because I found that they were very user friendly. Although, I felt that there were many requirements in each assignment and not sure I was going to get them done, I do feel that I was able to complete all course assignments and complete them in a timely manner. When completing the assignments I found myself double checking to make sure that I had all that was required. I found myself being able to complete and submit the assignments before the due dates. The discussion board very helpful when completing some of the week’s assignments. Being able to look at other classmates posts and see that they were having some of the same questions and thoughts made it possible for me to have more confidence in myself to get it done. I was able to use the discussions in helping to complete assignments. The reading played a key role, especially in week 2 when we had to compare the free software.

Lifelong Learning Skills:
The achievements that I had throughout this course are very relevant to my work that I do at school. There are some things that I completed in this course that I do not see myself using on a daily basis in my current position. This would include the free software that we discussed and used, creating the PSA, and the story video. I do not feel that this multimedia would be very effective. According to Shank, 2010, “Effective multimedia for learning requires carefully combining media in well-reasoned ways that take advantage of each medium's unique characteristics. The most effective multimedia provides learning experiences that mirror real-world experiences and let learners apply the content in various contexts. "
Many of my students do not have the access to the items needed to complete the projects. I can see myself using the idea of creating a short video in my Social Studies classes when studying certain time periods and even people. These videos or short clips would have to be done in the classroom and during class time as they are some students that do not have the access or support they need to complete on their own. Using these tools for instruction is effective with many students because it helps them both activate prior knowledge and develop a mental model to help them understand new information (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Although I do not see myself using these tools in the near future, I do realize how important they are. Using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom, especially for multimedia production, will meet the standards for student communication skills as well as creative-writing and technology apps (Solomon & Schrum, 2007). In a future position I do hope to use all that I have learned throughout this course to help students become successful and be able to express their ideas in a new and exciting way.
Although I feel that I achieved all of the outcomes. I always I feel that there is more that can be done to make something more creative and better. I think that the one thing that keeps me from achieving the best that I can do is my time management. I find myself to be the biggest procrastinator when it comes to getting things done and I also find myself doing just enough to get things done. In being a big procrastinator and also doing what just needs to be done I find myself thinking of what I am missing by not exploring things more. I wait until the last minute to put everything together. One thing that helped me out in this course was the fact that we had to work in a group and we all wanted to get things done so that we could make sure that we had all of the requirements in our assignment and make the necessary changes. This teamwork helped me to manage my time better and get things done in an orderly fashion. I could not have asked for a better group.
Throughout the course I learned many things about myself. I learned that I can manage my time better if I put my mind to it and discipline myself. When the course started I felt very overwhelmed by the amount of work that I saw included in the course but as time went on I found out it wasn’t that bad and was able to complete everything. I think that main factor in feeling overwhelmed was the fact that I hadn’t worked with or created video stories using my computer and software that was included. So in this I learned more about the programs and software that are included on my computer or ones that you are able to download for free and use. If a person just takes the time to experiment and learn from trial and error I believe that there is a lot of software out there to help you complete anything that you need.

References:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Shank, P. (n.d). The Value of Multimedia in Learning. Think Tank. http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/thinktank/valuemedia/
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New Tools, New School. Washington, D.C.: International Society for Technology in Education.